Decoy stand and speed carry system

ABSTRACT

A duck decoy includes a support and a decoy body carried on the support. The support includes a base section, a decoy support section and a stanchion connecting the base section to the decoy support section. A related method for carrying a plurality of duck decoys together in a single hand includes the steps of displacing each decoy body on each support from a home position to a carry position, stacking the base sections together while orienting the decoy bodies in different directions with chests together and holding the stacked base sections in one hand.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the field of waterfowl hunting and,more particularly, to a new and improved duck decoy and related methodfor carrying a plurality of duck decoys in a simple and efficientmanner.

BACKGROUND

Today, on the market, field decoys come with one of two types of stakes.The first type are pointed stakes that are pushed/pierce into theground, with the decoy resting on the opposite end. The second type ofstake has a wider, square/round/octagonal base, allowing the user to setthe stake on top of the ground and is particularly useful in frozenground/snow situations where one might have difficulty piercing theground.

When setting up decoys before the hunt or taking down decoys after thehunt, today's products involve a very cumbersome process. The stakes areseparate from the decoys. So you set the stakes out first, then you haveto place the decoys onto the stakes. Some systems may allow for thestake to remain inside the decoy, which is better, but you have tohandle each separately. When you pick up after a hunt, you remove thedecoys and take them in, leaving the stakes, which are hard to find, oryou remove the decoys, drop them on the ground and then pick up thestakes. After that, you come back for the decoys. Because these fielddecoys are full-body decoys, they are large and round in size. The mosta man can conveniently carry at one time without special equipment isthree. This is done by carrying two by the neck with one locked underone arm.

This document relates to a new and improved duck decoy that allows oneto conveniently carry as many as 16 decoys at a time while the decoybodies are secured to the stakes or supports. The bases of the new duckdecoys include a slot or channel on one side that allows the bases ofthe duck decoys to slide up and around the center rod or stanchion ofthe other supports. This makes the duck decoys stackable, while thedecoy bodies are maintained on the supports.

The supports include an upright rod or stanchion that allows you topivot the decoy body downward, allowing the decoy body to rotate about90 degrees, from (a) a relatively horizontal hunt or home position to(b) a relatively vertical or carry position where the head/beak of thedecoy is pointing up towards the sky and the tail of the decoy ispointing to the ground. By turning the decoy vertical, this allows youto place four decoys, close to each other with their chests together.

By placing four decoys close to one another, with the four basesstacked, it is a simple matter for one to reach down and grab the bases,and lift and carry four decoys in one hand. If you have one set of fourdecoys in each hand, it allows you to easily carry eight decoys at onetime. If you lay two four decoy sets on their sides and then butt thebases of the two sets together, one can now reach down, easily grabeight bases with one hand and carry eight per hand, totaling sixteendecoys at a time.

The carrying of up to sixteen decoys and bases at one time greatlyreduces the number of trips required to set up the decoy field, savingprecious time and energy. Thus, the new and improved duck decoy andrelated method of carrying a plurality of decoys at one time representsa significant advance in the decoy art.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a new andimproved duck decoy is provided that is adapted to allow one to easilycarry as many as eight duck decoys together in one hand. The duck decoycomprises (1) a support and (2) a decoy body. The support includes (a) abase section having a sidewall with an indentation, (b) a decoy supportsection and (c) a stanchion connected between the indentation and thedecoy support section. The decoy body is carried on the decoy supportsection.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the duck decoy, theindentation defines an open channel.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the duck decoy, apivot connects the stanchion to the decoy support section.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the duck decoy, thedecoy support section includes a first segment on a first side of thepivot engaging the decoy body and a second segment on a second side ofthe pivot carrying a first retainer adapted for engaging said stanchionwhen said decoy body is pivoted into a home position.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the duck decoy, thedecoy support section further includes a leg projecting from the firstsegment between the decoy body and the pivot. A second retainer iscarried on the leg. The second retainer is adapted for engaging thestanchion when said decoy body is pivoted into a carry position. In oneor more embodiments, the first and second retainers are mechanicalclips.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the duck decoy, thesidewall is a circle having a major arc. In one or more of the manypossible embodiments of the duck decoy, the sidewall is a concavepolygon. In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the duckdecoy, the indentation is a balbis. In one or more of the many possibleembodiments of the duck decoy, the sidewall has three straight sides anda fourth side having a balbis. In one or more of the many possibleembodiments of the duck decoy, the sidewall has six interior angles ofabout 90° and two interior angles of about 270°.

In accordance with an additional aspect, a new and improved method isprovided for carrying a plurality of duck decoys together at one time,wherein each duck decoy includes a decoy body held on a support. Themethod comprises the steps of: (a) displacing each decoy body on eachsupport from a home position to a carry position, (b) stacking bases ofthe supports together while orienting the decoy bodies in differentdirections with their chests together and (c) holding the stacked basesin one hand.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, themethod includes the step of carrying up to four duck decoys in one hand.In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, themethod includes the step of carrying up to eight duck decoys in onehand.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, the stepof displacing includes the step of releasing a first retainer on eachduck decoy from engagement with the support to displace the decoy bodyof each duck decoy from the home position.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, the stepof displacing further includes pivoting the decoy body of each duckdecoy following releasing the first retainer.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, the stepof displacing still further includes engaging a second retainer of eachduck decoy with the support when the decoy body of each duck decoy ispivoted into the carry position whereby the duck body of each duck decoyis held in the carry position.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, themethod includes the steps of aligning a channel in the support of asecond duck decoy with a stanchion of the support of a first duck decoyand positioning the base of the second duck decoy onto the base of thefirst duck decoy with the stanchion received in the channel of thesecond duck decoy.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, themethod includes the steps of aligning a channel in the support of athird duck decoy with the stanchion of the first duck decoy andpositioning the base of the third duck decoy onto the base of the secondduck decoy with the stanchion received in the channel of the third duckdecoy.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, themethod includes the steps of aligning a channel in the support of afourth duck decoy with the stanchion of the first duck decoy andpositioning the base of the fourth duck decoy onto the base of the thirdduck decoy with the stanchion received in the channel of the fourth duckdecoy.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, themethod includes the step of repeating the following steps to make asecond stacked set of four duck decoys:

(a) aligning a channel in the support of a second duck decoy with astanchion of the support of a first duck decoy and positioning the baseof the second duck decoy onto the base of the first duck decoy with thestanchion received in the channel of the second duck decoy;

(b) aligning a channel in the support of a third duck decoy with thestanchion of the first duck decoy and positioning the base of the thirdduck decoy onto the base of the second duck decoy with the stanchionreceived in the channel of the third duck decoy; and

(c) aligning a channel in the support of a fourth duck decoy with thestanchion of the first duck decoy and positioning the base of the fourthduck decoy onto the base of the third duck decoy with the stanchionreceived in the channel of the fourth duck decoy.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, themethod may also include the step of orienting the bases of a firststacked set of four duck decoys to abut with the bases of the secondstacked set of four duck decoys so as to allow one to carry eight duckdecoys in one hand.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the method, themethod includes the step of making two stacks of four duck decoys andorienting bases on the two stacks of duck decoys back-to-back orabutting so as to allow one to carry eight duck decoys in one hand.

In the following description, there are shown and described severalpreferred embodiments of the duck decoy and the related method ofcarrying a plurality of duck decoys together in one hand. As it shouldbe realized, the duck decoy and method are capable of other, differentembodiments and their several details are capable of modification invarious, obvious aspects all without departing from duck decoy andmethod as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly,the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative innature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a partof the patent specification, illustrate several aspects of the duckdecoy and the related method and together with the description serve toexplain certain principles thereof.

FIG. 1A is perspective view of a single duck decoy on the stand with thedecoy body in the relatively horizontal hunt or home position.

FIG. 1B is the same as FIG. 1A except that the decoy body has beenremoved from the wire support.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a single duck decoy on the stand withthe decoy in the relatively vertical or carry position.

FIG. 2B is the same as FIG. 2A except that the decoy body has beenremoved from the wire support.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the latch that secures the decoy body inplace on the wire support.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing one duck decoy on the ground inthe carry position.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing two duck decoys stacked on theground in the carry position.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view illustrating three duck decoys stacked onthe ground in the carry position.

FIG. 4D is a perspective view illustrating four duck decoys stacked onthe ground in the carry position.

FIG. 4E, is a perspective view illustrating four duck decoys beingcarried in one hand.

FIGS. 5A-5D are the same as FIGS. 4A-4D except that the decoy bodieshave been removed from the wire supports to more clearly illustrate howthe supports of the duck decoys are nested together.

FIG. 6 illustrates how eight duck decoys are carried in a single hand.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the duck decoy and method, examples of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B which illustrate thenew and improved duck decoy 10. That duck decoy 10 includes a decoy body12 carried upon a support 14. The decoy body 12 may be made to provide alife-like image of a duck as illustrated. The decoy body 12 may be madefrom any appropriate material including but not necessarily limited toplastic, composite, wood or the like. The support 14 may be made frommetal wire or other appropriate material and shaped to provide a stablestructure for holding the decoy body 12 in a desired position whenpositioned on the ground.

The support 14 includes a base section 16, a decoy support section 18and a stanchion 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the base section 14includes a side wall 22 in the form of a concave polygon having anindentation 24 that defines an open channel, generally designated byreference numeral 26.

More specifically, the base 16 may substantially outline a U-shapehaving three straight sides 23 and a fourth side 25 including theindentation 24 which may take the form a balbis. As illustrated,sidewall 22 may even define a U-shaped pentomino having six interiorangles A1 of about 90 degrees and two interior angles A2 of about 270degrees. In other embodiments, the sidewall 22 may be substantiallycircular with a major arc. In fact, substantially any shaped sidewallwith an indentation 24 and open channel 26 that provides a stable basefor supporting the decoy body 12 may be used.

The decoy support section 18 of the illustrated embodiment includes afirst segment 28 on a first side of a pivot 30 and a second segment 32on a second side of the pivot. The first segment 28 is engaged with andreceived in a receiver or bore 34 in the bottom wall 36 of the decoybody 12 so that the decoy body is carried or supported on the firstsegment.

The stanchion 20 extends between the indentation 24 in the base section16 and the decoy support section 18. More particularly, the proximal end38 of the stanchion 20 is connected to the end wall 40 of theindentation 24 while the distal end includes a pivot yoke 42 of thestanchion that receives and holds the pivot 30. As a result of thisarrangement, the decoy support section 18 may be pivoted with respect tothe stanchion 20. This, in turn, allows the decoy body 12, carried onthe first segment 28 to be pivoted about the pivot 30 between a hunt orhome position illustrated in FIG. 1A and a vertical or carry positionillustrated in FIG. 2A.

As best shown in FIG. 3 , an optional latch or fastener 44 may becarried on a lug or loop 46 depending from the yoke 42 of the stanchion20 or the pivot 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 44 is anopen link that may be passed through an aperture 50 in the bracket 52 onthe bottom wall 36 of the decoy body 12 to secure the decoy body on thefirst segment 28 of the decoy support section 18. The open link of thefastener 44 may be withdrawn from the aperture 50 in the bracket 52 inorder to remove the decoy body 12 from the first segment 28 of the decoysupport section 18 when desired.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a first retainer 54 is carriedon the second segment 32 of the decoy support section 18. The firstretainer 54 is adapted to engage the stanchion 20 when the decoy body 12is pivoted into the hunt or home position as illustrated in FIG. 1A.More specifically, the first retainer 54 releasably holds the decoy body12 in the hunt or home position.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 2B, a second retainer 56 is carriedon the end of an L-shaped leg 58 projecting from the first segment 28 ofthe decoy support section 18 between the decoy body 12 and the pivot 30.This second retainer 56 is adapted to engage the stanchion 20 when thedecoy body 12 is pivoted into the vertical or carry position illustratedin FIG. 2A. More specifically, the second retainer 56 releasably holdsthe decoy body 12 in the vertical or carry position.

The first and second retainers 54, 56 may comprise any suitablestructure to perform the indicated function. For example in at least onepossible embodiment, one or more of the retainers 54, 56 may comprise amechanical clip adapted to resiliently engage and squeeze or hold thestanchion 20 while also allowing for selective release from thestanchion when desired. In yet another example, one or more of theretainers 54, 56 may comprise a magnet where the stanchion 20 is madefrom a magnetic material.

As should be appreciated from viewing FIGS. 4A-4E, 5A-5D and 6 , theduck decoy 10 allows for a new and improved method of carrying aplurality of duck decoys together in one hand. That method includes thestep of displacing each decoy body 12 on each support 14 of theplurality of decoys to be carried from the hunt or home positionillustrated in FIG. 1A to the vertical or carry position illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 4A. This step is followed by the stacking of the basesections 16 of the supports 14 together while orienting the decoy bodies12 in different directions so that their chests are positioned together.See FIG. 4D. Next is the step of holding the stacked base sections 16 inone hand. In this way, one may carry four duck decoys 10 in one hand asillustrated in FIG. 4E or as many as eight duck decoys in one hand asillustrated in FIG. 6 .

More particularly, the displacing step includes releasing the firstretainer 54 on each duck decoy 10 to be carried from engagement with thestanchion 20 of the support 14 in order to displace the decoy body 12from the home position. This is followed by the step of pivoting each ofthe decoy bodies 12 about the pivot 30 into the vertical or carryposition. Next is the step of engaging the second retainer 56 of eachduck decoy 10 with the stanchion 20 of the support 14 as the decoy bodyis pivoted into the vertical or carry position whereby the decoy body isheld in the carry position.

The stacking step includes the steps of aligning the opening of the openchannel 26′ in the support 14′ of the second duck decoy 10′ with thestanchion 20 of the first duck decoy 10 and positioning the base section16′ of the second duck decoy onto or against the base section 16 of thefirst duck decoy with the stanchion of the first duck decoy received inthe channel of the second duck decoy (see FIG. 4B).

Next, the stacking step includes the steps of aligning the opening ofthe open channel 26″ in the support 14″ of the third duck decoy 10″ withthe stanchion 20 of the first duck decoy 10 and the stanchion 20′ of thesecond duck decoy 10′ and positioning the base section 16″ of the thirdduck decoy onto or against the base section 16′ of the second duck decoywith the stanchions of the first and second duck decoys received in thechannel of the third duck decoy (see FIG. 4C).

Next, the stacking step includes the steps of aligning the opening ofthe open channel 26′″ in the support 14′″ of the fourth duck decoy 10′″with the stanchions 20, 20′ and 20″ of the first, second and third duckdecoys 10, 10′ and 10″ and positioning the base section 16″′ of thefourth duck decoy onto or against the base section 16″ of the third duckdecoy with the stanchions of the first, second and third duck decoysreceived in the channel of the fourth duck decoy (see FIG. 4Dillustrating the first set of four stacked decoys SD1). This first setof four stacked decoys is ready to be carried in one hand as illustratedin FIG. 4E.

If one wishes to carry eight duck decoys 10 in one hand as illustratedin FIG. 6 , the displacing and stacking steps (including the aligningand positioning steps) outlined above may be repeated to make a secondset of four stacked decoys SD2. Next is the orienting of the basesections BS1 of the first set of stacked decoys SD1 to abut with thebase sections BS2 of the second set of stacked decoys SD2 so as bringtogether eight sides of the base sections eight duck decoys allowing alleight to be grasped and carried in one hand. Note that the decoy bodiesof the two sets of a stacked decoys SD1, SD2 extend away from each otherin opposite directions.

Each of the following terms written in singular grammatical form: “a”,“an”, and “the”, as used herein, means “at least one”, or “one or more”.Use of the phrase “One or more” herein does not alter this intendedmeaning of “a”, “an”, or “the”. Accordingly, the terms “a”, “an”, and“the”, as used herein, may also refer to, and encompass, a plurality ofthe stated entity or object, unless otherwise specifically defined orstated herein, or, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Forexample, the phrases: “a unit”, “a device”, “an assembly”, “amechanism”, “a component”, “an element”, and “a step or procedure”, asused herein, may also refer to, and encompass, a plurality of units, aplurality of devices, a plurality of assemblies, a plurality ofmechanisms, a plurality of components, a plurality of elements, and, aplurality of steps or procedures, respectively.

Each of the following terms: “includes”, “including”, “has”, “having”,“comprises”, and “comprising”, and, their linguistic/grammaticalvariants, derivatives, or/and conjugates, as used herein, means“including, but not limited to”, and is to be taken as specifying thestated component(s), feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s),integer(s), or step(s), and does not preclude addition of one or moreadditional component(s), feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s),integer(s), step(s), or groups thereof.

The term “method”, as used herein, refers to steps, procedures, manners,means, or/and techniques, for accomplishing a given task including, butnot limited to, those steps, procedures, manners, means, or/andtechniques, either known to, or readily developed from known steps,procedures, manners, means, or/and techniques, by practitioners in therelevant field(s) of the disclosed invention.

Terms of approximation, such as the terms about, substantially,approximately, etc., as used herein, refers to ±10% of the statednumerical value. Use of the terms concentric, parallel or perpendicularare meant to mean approximately meeting this condition, unless otherwisespecified.

It is to be fully understood that certain aspects, characteristics, andfeatures, of the duck decoy and method, which are, for clarity,illustratively described and presented in the context or format of aplurality of separate embodiments, may also be illustratively describedand presented in any suitable combination or sub-combination in thecontext or format of a single embodiment. Conversely, various aspects,characteristics, and features, of the eye implant and method which areillustratively described and presented in combination or sub-combinationin the context or format of a single embodiment may also beillustratively described and presented in the context or format of aplurality of separate embodiments.

Although the duck decoy and method of this disclosure have beenillustratively described and presented by way of specific exemplaryembodiments, and examples thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications, or/and variations, thereof, will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that all suchalternatives, modifications, or/and variations, fall within the spiritof, and are encompassed by, the broad scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A duck decoy, comprising: a support including (a) abase section having a continuous sidewall with an indentation, (b) adecoy support section and (c) a stanchion connected between theindentation and the decoy support section; and a decoy body carried onthe decoy support section wherein (a) the indentation defines an openchannel, (b) a pivot connects the stanchion to the decoy support sectionand (c) the decoy support section includes a first segment on a firstside of the pivot engaging the decoy body and a second segment on asecond side of the pivot carrying a first retainer adapted for engagingthe stanchion when the decoy body is pivoted into a home position. 2.The duck decoy of claim 1, wherein said decoy support section furtherincludes a leg projecting from the first segment between the decoy bodyand the pivot, said leg carrying a second retainer adapted for engagingthe stanchion when said decoy body is pivoted into a carry position. 3.The duck decoy of claim 2, wherein said first retainer and said secondretainer are mechanical clips.
 4. The duck decoy of claim 2, wherein thesidewall is a concave polygon.
 5. The duck decoy of claim 4, wherein theindentation is a balbis.
 6. The duck decoy of claim 2, wherein thesidewall has three straight sides and a fourth side having a balbis. 7.The duck decoy of claim 2, wherein the sidewall has six interior anglesof about 90° and two interior angles of about 270°.
 8. The duck decoy ofclaim 1, further including a fastener carried on the support, saidfastener releasably engaging the decoy body to secure the decoy body onthe support.
 9. A duck decoy, comprising: a support including (a) a basesection having a continuous sidewall with an indentation, (b) a decoysupport section and (c) a stanchion connected between the indentationand the decoy support section; and a decoy body carried on the decoysupport section wherein the indentation is an open channel with a closedend and the stanchion is connected to the closed end wherein (a) a pivotconnects the stanchion to the decoy support section and (b) the decoysupport section includes a first segment on a first side of the pivotengaging the decoy body and a second segment on a second side of thepivot carrying a first retainer adapted for engaging the stanchion whenthe decoy body is pivoted into a home position.
 10. The duck decoy ofclaim 9, wherein said decoy support section further includes a legprojecting from the first segment between the decoy body and the pivot,said leg carrying a second retainer adapted for engaging the stanchionwhen said decoy body is pivoted into a carry position.
 11. The duckdecoy of claim 10, wherein said first retainer and said second retainerare mechanical clips.